INS Shardul (2004)

INS Shardul is the lead ship of the of the Indian Navy. On 3 October 2008, Shardul was affiliated to the 5 Armoured Regiment of the Indian Army in an on-board ceremony, at the Mumbai Naval Base.

History

Shardul started sea trials on 3 November 2006 and was commissioned into the Indian Navy, on 4 January 2007 by the then Defence Minister A. K. Antony at the naval base in Karwar. The ship was based at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi to train cadets before their commissioning onboard and. In March 2017 the ship was deployed on a two-month long deployment in the Southern Indian Ocean to provide surveillance support in the region. On March 10, 2020, INS Shardul arrived at Port Antsiranana with relief material for Madagascar, after Cyclone Diane and floods earlier in the year. 600 tonnes of rice were handed over. This is the biggest relief load ever carried by any Indian warship.

2025

INS Shardul participated in the International Fleet Review 2025 and took part in Exercise Komodo hosted by the Indonesian Navy, along with a P-8I MPA from 15 to 22 Feb 2025.